Garment.



P. Z. COPENHAFER.

GARMENT.

APPLICATION man luLY 29, 191e.

1,280,963. Patented 0015.8, 191s.

3SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR y 'Pear/e Z. @open/.tafel' BY en@ fin/f ATTORNEY wlTNEssEs P. Z. COPENHAFER.

GARMENT.

APQLICATIO'N FILED QIULY 29.1916. 1,280,963.

Patented Oct. 8, 19l8.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES INVENTOR emleZ. oelzafer Bv www'.

ATTORNEY PEARLE Z. COPENHAFER, 0F TULIA, TEXAS.

GARMENI'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

Application medruiy 29, 191e. serial No. 112,103.

T 0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, PEARLE Z. COPENHAFER, citizen of the United States, residing at Tulia, in the county of Swisher and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to garments, and particularly to that class of female apparel known as sport costumes, and is adapted particularly to be worn during indoor and outdoor exercises, horseback riding, and which is also suitable for street wear.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a garment of this character which is constructed of one piece and includes a waist and skirt portion, and which enables the free use of the limbs during athletic exercises or contests. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a costume of this character which embodies a divided skirt, and which is equipped with means for readily converting the athletic suit into a walking or street costume.

.A still further and particular object of the invention is to provide an athletic garment of one piece, wherebythe same is suspended from the shoulders, thus avoiding wadding of the garment at the waist line, which is of simple construction, and which is of light weight, which is easily adjusted to and removed from thebody, which is conservative in appearance, and which will prove thoroughly efficient for the uses for which it is designed.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

v The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the practical application of a garment constrncted in accordance with the invention, and showing the front thereof;

Fig. '2 is a vie\1 similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating the'rear of the garment;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the garment substantially upon line 8-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is a similar view taken on line 1 4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the waist portion of the garment is indicated at 6, while the lower or leg covering portion is designated by the numeral 7. The material of which the garment is formed may be of khaki, silk poplin, or any other suitable material. The waist portion is preferably cut so as to produce a loose fitting effect, and has its sleeves slitted longitudinally from the cuif portions thereof, snap fasteners or the like 8 being provided to secure the same properly about the fore arm. This construction enables the sleeves to be readily rolled when it is desired to have free use of the arms. The garment has its upper or lower body cover portions permanently secured together, so as to effect a one piece costume, the lower portion of the garment comprising full leg portions 9 to enable the wearer to have free and unobstructed use of the lower limbs. The waist band of the lower garment is sewed as shown to the lower portion of the waist G throughout the major portion of the girth of the garment, however, the rear portion of the waist band of the divided skirt remains detached from the waist portion. The upper rear portion of the leg coverings are slitted at their sides as shown, the slits extending downwardly a relatively short distance from thel waist band, whereby a rear flap for the garment is provided. Cooperating snap fasteners or clasps l0 are provided at the edges of the flap and upon the adjacent waist and skirt portions whereby the said flap may be held in proper closed position when the garment has been adjusted.

The leg or skirt portions 9 are of a length preferably to terminate at their lower extremities approximately midway the knee and ankle, and within each of these skirt portions, is arranged a web or diaphragm 11, having a central aperture through which the limb extends, and the edges deiining the opening are adapted to snugly engage with the leg of the wearer. This member 11 is arranged within each leg portion at a position adjacent the knee, and the elastic members are adapted to engage below the knee joint. This construction prevents riding up of the leg or skirt portions of the garment, and maintains the d1- vided skirt in proper position at A all times.`

It is also obvious that such construction prevents dirt and dust passing beyond the knee portion of the garment. y

Y It is obvious that a'garinent of the above described character is capable of being readily adjusted to the body or removed therefrom, and while presenting a neat and attractive appearance, permits ofthe body of the wearer bendingor twisting in various positions such as might be required in athletic activities. Free use of the limbs is always assured with the garment, and derangement of the same upon the body is prevented.

Secured to the front and rear portions of the garment and upon the skirt portion thereof are panel members 14, the same being of substantially7 T-shape, 'the depending portions ofwhich are secured at their lateral edges for the major portion of their extent to the opposing leg covering skirts 9. The lower portion of each panel is provided with snap fasteners or clasps 13, by means of which the same may be secured to the leg covering skirts of the garment. The upper portion of each panel forms a iap, upon the longitudinal and vertical edges of which are secured snap fasteners 13 by means of which the said lia-ps may be scoured to the skirt and waist portions of the garment. rlhe laterally extending portions of the panels are adapted'to encircle the waist of the wearer and to lit snugly above the hips, the said extremities being detachably secured together by the means of fas;-

teners as will be readily understood. 'Whenusing the garment as a riding habit, the lower portions of the panels may be detached from the skirt portions of the garment, whereupon free use of the legs in mounting or dismounting may be had.

In athletic games, such as tennis, basket ball and the like wherein free use of the legs is required, the panel portions are unbuttoned, while when used as a walking Copies of this patent may be obtained for costume, the panels are fastened in proper position and the costume presents a plain and conservative appearance. The suit may be rendered attractive in appearance Vby changes in the design or cut, and it is also Y obvious that various changes in the minor details of construction and arrangement of parts may be restorted to, if desired, without'departin'gV from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a body garment, the combination with a bifurcated skirt providing leg portions loosely inclosing the legs of the wearer, ofa pair of T-shaped panels one being permanently secured at its upper end and at one side to the said skirt at the waist line thereof, the other of said panels being applied to the rear yof the garment with its upper portion partly encircling the waist, the ends of the said upper portions being overlapped, sn'ap fasteners for securing the said ends together, and means for detachably securing the edges of the depending portions of the` said panels to the leg portions of the skirt.

2. In a body garment, a bifurcated skirt providing leg portions loosely inclosing the legs of the wearer, the said skirt having a downwardly extending slit at its upper end and at one sidea Lvi-shaped panel having one side of its upper horizontally disposed portion permanently secured to the upper part of the skirt, the said horizontally disposed portionbeing substantially equal in length to one half the waist line and the free endof said portion extending over the said slit, means for detachably securing the free end of said portion to the upper end of the skirt, and means for securing the depending part of said panel to the said leg f portions.

In testimony whereof I aliiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PEARLE Z. COPENI-IAFER.

Witnesses: i Y

T. W. ToMLrNsoN, W. H. DONALDSON.

ve cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

